The Effect of Demand Response on Perceived Thermal Comfort in a District Heated Office Building

Studies reveal that increasing flexibility in district heating systems can optimize combined heat and power production and decrease the need for peak power production. Flexibility can be enhanced through heat load control in buildings. Utilization of building thermal mass offers significant potential for short-term modulation of their aggregate power consumption. This paper presents a case study in an office building in which each room has been individually controlled by digital thermostatic radiator valves. Based on district heating price forecasts, a temperature set-point for the next hour is calculated and thereby the thermal load flexibility of the building is increased. The study gives insights on how load management on room-level accuracy affects the thermal conditions and the perceived thermal comfort of the occupants.